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The residents of Swift Current are likely used to the white ’67 Dodge Coronet.
Hearing Johnny Cash blaring from the speakers without even looking, they will know Brad and Tami Wall are cruising around on a summer’s evening.
It is also one of the ways Wall reconnects with life away from his job as premier, a role he has had since 2007.
“I like it, I don’t know why; it is therapeutic driving around,” he explained from behind the wheel.
Going on a tour of Swift Current, he highlighted the facilities he looks on with pride since becoming the area’s MLA in 1999.
He was in opposition at the time, but Wall raised issues around the hospital and brought petitions to the legislature.
“I hope to have had a small role in that, but those that should take credit are the government of the day, the NDP.”
Now that hospital is connected with the soon-to-open long-term care facility.
It was designed with Lean principles in mind, an approach in health care Wall has been much criticized for.
In hindsight, Wall admits Lean could have been introduced in a more “Saskatchewan-ized” way.
“Could we have ended it sooner or made sure it didn’t have all the strange terms? Yes, but there is a lot to commend it.”
This election, Wall and the Saskatchewan Party government have been accused of lacking humility, of no longer caring.
No doubt his biggest defender remains wife, Tami Wall.
“He hasn’t changed at all and I think people see that when they meet him, he is still the same guy he’s always been,” she maintained.
This year, the Walls celebrate their silver wedding anniversary and remain in the home they spent most of their married life in.
The home is emptier than it once was. Their oldest daughter Megan is now married, Faith graduates from high school this year and son Colter is a musician with a newly-signed recording contract.
It is no surprise Colter’s is the CD you find in the car stereo.
There have been many changes in their lives since Wall become a politician, but according to Tami, that is the way they like it.
“I like changing things, things that change. I’ll sit at a difference place, not always at the same table spot, just so you have a different view of things.”
Over the last couple of years, Wall has repeatedly been asked whether he intends to run federally one day. He denies that, but political-watchers believe he will say goodbye in the next two years.
Wall insists he isn’t going anywhere.
“There is a lot frankly that needs to get done, in long-term care, and we’ve now, we’ve got to get back to a balanced budget,” he said. “Life can intervene, who knows what any of us are going to be doing in one year, two years or four years, but I’m running for four.”
